John Adams October 30, 1735 Quincy (formerly Braintree), Massachusetts – July 4, 1826 Quincy, Massachusetts Political Party: Federalist Terms in Office: March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801 (One Term) Vice President: Thomas Jefferson (Jeffersonian Republican Party)
Thematic Context By the time John Adams was elected president of the United States of America, the American diversity was having a slow start. The time period being the beginning of the 19th Century, there were barely any developments in the history of American diversity. However, this does not mean there was zero progress; the progress that was there was minimal. Also, the Americans did not include the African slaves and the Native Americans as part of American society, thus not a part of their diversity (although in the second national census, Africans were counted). Edmund Jennings Randolph, the first attorney general, wrote that slaves were not "constituent members of our society," and thus citizenship did not apply to them and their presence wasn’t a part of American diversity. Society also viewed Native American tribes as "nations," and frankly, a nuisance, so they were altogether ignored except for their land.
The slow rise to American diversity started the decade before Adams’s presidency when the birth of the “factory” occurred. The profits started rolling in 1789 and the factory boom grew around the year 1800. This can be seen as the start of the Industrial Revolution because this was the most profound social change of the century, having been an agricultural nation before then. Also, Eli Whitney devised a technique of using interchangeable parts when manufacturing goods, helping to expand the factory boom. Industrial expansion created jobs that attracted thousands of immigrants to America.
Another event that occurred around the same time, 1798, was the publication of Thomas Malthus’s book, Essay on the Principles of Population. In it, Malthus claimed the population of Britain was growing faster than food production, and predicted that unless something was done about this, large numbers of people in Britain would starve. His book created panic among the British, striking fear in their eyes for they had twice the size of the American population at the time of publication. This caused a wave of people to emigrate to a fast-growing industrial nation in search of work, such as America.
A third reason (not necessarily an event) for immigration into America was to find an asylum from the immigrant’s native country. Take the Germans for example--they wanted to flee their homeland in search for a home and easier life for them and their posterity. Modernization and population growth forced many Germans from their respective family businesses and onto the streets with emigration the only option.
As mentioned earlier, the number of immigrants in America arrived slowly during John Adams’s presidency. Therefore, there should have been little impact of the immigrant’s arrive on Adams. But in the summer of 1978, Adams passed the Alien Acts, three separate acts that threatened the liberty of foreigners in America. The passing of these Acts weren’t due to the immigrants’ arrival, but actually due to the stress Adams’s political party was undergoing. So really, the passing was more of an arbitrary move of Adams than from any direct cause that the immigrants would make. He wanted to 1) show the Jeffersonian Republicans that the Federalists had the power and 2) get his vengeance against all the immigrants for voting for Jefferson during the elections. Despite the Acts being used as a pawn in his political game, these Acts did have real life consequences with the immigrants. Such as the Naturalization Act that extended the period of residence required for citizenship from five to fourteen years. These made citizenship harder to obtain in America during his presidency and wasn’t reflecting the American dream of “liberty and justice for all.”
Thesis John Adams, third president of the United States of America, a man who put patriotism above serving his party or his people. This bode well for him, for he stood by what he believed was better for the nation in the end rather than what would make the masses happy, such was the case for his stance on foreign affairs. But on the flip side of the same token, he could be found selfish and tactless, evident when he passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, four acts that allowed the Federalists to be in control. However, his actions deem for the most part positive, especially since he followed George Washington’s presidency, a tough act to follow. For his successes and failures, Adams presidency earns him a B.
Presidential Goals In Adams’s Inaugural Address, he expressed his gratitude of a free republican government. He spoke of his respect for the rights of all states, and of his belief in expanded education for all the people, both to enlarge the happiness of life and as essential to the preservation of freedom. He continued to express his love and honor for the Constitution and promised that he would do his best to maintain and uphold the people's rights'.
Throughout the next eight years of Adams’s presidency, he was not able to uphold his promise of protecting the people’s rights’; instead, he did the opposite by passing the Alien and Sedition Acts which was highly unconstitutional, specifically how the Sedition Act clearly violated individual protections under the first amendment of the Constitution. And although Adams expressed in his Inaugural Address to greater his people’s happiness while in office, he was observed by some to be a man with no desire to cultivate or appeal to the masses.
Relationship with Congress Because Congress was mostly comprised of Federalists, Adams had little quarrel with the members. However, the president of the Senate was the Vice President Thomas Jefferson who happened to be Democratic Republican. Obviously head-butting occurred, but truly the only time Adams full-out disagreed with Congress was on deciding America’s position in the war between Great Britain and France, Adams trying to go the more peaceful route. In the end, Adams successfully navigated a way into creating peace between France and the U.S. in a civil manner, going against Congress’s opinion.
Positive Outcome One of Adams most notable actions was the XYZ Affair in 1797. The cause of the event was when the French were furious at Jay’s Treaty, describing it as America’s way of alliancing with Britain, thus violating the Franco-American Treaty of 1788. French warships began to seize defenseless American merchant vessels and refused to receive America’s envoy. Adams stayed level headed while the Americans were becoming aroused. Adams, trying to avoid war, tried to reach an agreement with the French and sent three new diplomats over to France. But when the three new diplomats arrived, they were required to pay a bribe of an unthinkable amount just to meet the French foreign minister Talleyrand.
This incident, later known as the XYZ Affair, almost blew into a full-fledged war; worried about war, an intimidated Talleyrand gave into America’s threats and thus respected America’s power. This shone a great light on Adams, but in 1798 he shocked everyone by appointing a new minister to France. After a great deal of haggling, the Convention of 1800 treaty was signed and a war was avoided between France and America, which indirectly helped pave the path for the Louisiana Purchase during Jefferson’s presidency.
Negative Outcome Irrefutably the worst decision Adams made during presidency was passing the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798, four Acts that hindered American rights and was found highly unconstitutional. The four acts were the Naturalization Act, the Alien Act, the Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act. They acted, respectively, to make it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens, to rid the nation of pro-Republican immigrants, to authorize the president to imprison or kick out immigrants during wartime, and to fine and imprison anyone who publishes anything negative against the government. The only thing Adams had gained from these Acts was for the Federalists to overpower Republicans, asserting their power over them; conversely, the nation suffered due to Adams’s selfish actions.
Influence the Future In an angry fit and an attempt to retaliate at the newly elected President Thomas Jefferson, Adams spent his final hours as President appointing a slew of Federalists in court offices to make a Federalist legacy in government while Adams was no longer president, known as the “Midnight Judges.” Although Jefferson removed many of these appointees, Federalist John Marshall remained the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court and helped shape America by making decisions based on the Constitution and asserted judicial power, setting a precedent that far exceeded Jefferson’s presidency.
Conclusion Weighing Adam’s successes compared to his downfalls, it would be clear that the decisions Adams has made for this nation outweighs the wrongs he has made. It is far worse to go to war as a weak nation than to imprison some freethinkers who would be released by the next president. For these reasons, Jefferson made a respectable president who made an honorable follow-up to his predecessor George Washington, and like his predecessor, would be a tough act to follow. His one flaw during presidency was getting too involved with parties; otherwise, he evidently put his nation first and foremost. For these reasons, Adams deserves a B.
Works Cited DeGregorio, William A. "John Adams." The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 6th ed. New York: Gramercy, 2002. 28-31. Print.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. "Launching the New Ship of State, 1789-1800." The American Pageant. 12th ed. N.p.: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 202-06. Print.
October 30, 1735 Quincy (formerly Braintree), Massachusetts – July 4, 1826
Quincy, Massachusetts
Political Party: Federalist
Terms in Office: March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801 (One Term)
Vice President: Thomas Jefferson (Jeffersonian Republican Party)
Thematic Context
By the time John Adams was elected president of the United States of America, the American diversity was having a slow start. The time period being the beginning of the 19th Century, there were barely any developments in the history of American diversity. However, this does not mean there was zero progress; the progress that was there was minimal. Also, the Americans did not include the African slaves and the Native Americans as part of American society, thus not a part of their diversity (although in the second national census, Africans were counted). Edmund Jennings Randolph, the first attorney general, wrote that slaves were not "constituent members of our society," and thus citizenship did not apply to them and their presence wasn’t a part of American diversity. Society also viewed Native American tribes as "nations," and frankly, a nuisance, so they were altogether ignored except for their land.
The slow rise to American diversity started the decade before Adams’s presidency when the birth of the “factory” occurred. The profits started rolling in 1789 and the factory boom grew around the year 1800. This can be seen as the start of the Industrial Revolution because this was the most profound social change of the century, having been an agricultural nation before then. Also, Eli Whitney devised a technique of using interchangeable parts when manufacturing goods, helping to expand the factory boom. Industrial expansion created jobs that attracted thousands of immigrants to America.
Another event that occurred around the same time, 1798, was the publication of Thomas Malthus’s book, Essay on the Principles of Population. In it, Malthus claimed the population of Britain was growing faster than food production, and predicted that unless something was done about this, large numbers of people in Britain would starve. His book created panic among the British, striking fear in their eyes for they had twice the size of the American population at the time of publication. This caused a wave of people to emigrate to a fast-growing industrial nation in search of work, such as America.
A third reason (not necessarily an event) for immigration into America was to find an asylum from the immigrant’s native country. Take the Germans for example--they wanted to flee their homeland in search for a home and easier life for them and their posterity. Modernization and population growth forced many Germans from their respective family businesses and onto the streets with emigration the only option.
As mentioned earlier, the number of immigrants in America arrived slowly during John Adams’s presidency. Therefore, there should have been little impact of the immigrant’s arrive on Adams. But in the summer of 1978, Adams passed the Alien Acts, three separate acts that threatened the liberty of foreigners in America. The passing of these Acts weren’t due to the immigrants’ arrival, but actually due to the stress Adams’s political party was undergoing. So really, the passing was more of an arbitrary move of Adams than from any direct cause that the immigrants would make. He wanted to 1) show the Jeffersonian Republicans that the Federalists had the power and 2) get his vengeance against all the immigrants for voting for Jefferson during the elections. Despite the Acts being used as a pawn in his political game, these Acts did have real life consequences with the immigrants. Such as the Naturalization Act that extended the period of residence required for citizenship from five to fourteen years. These made citizenship harder to obtain in America during his presidency and wasn’t reflecting the American dream of “liberty and justice for all.”
Thesis
John Adams, third president of the United States of America, a man who put patriotism above serving his party or his people. This bode well for him, for he stood by what he believed was better for the nation in the end rather than what would make the masses happy, such was the case for his stance on foreign affairs. But on the flip side of the same token, he could be found selfish and tactless, evident when he passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, four acts that allowed the Federalists to be in control. However, his actions deem for the most part positive, especially since he followed George Washington’s presidency, a tough act to follow. For his successes and failures, Adams presidency earns him a B.
Presidential Goals
In Adams’s Inaugural Address, he expressed his gratitude of a free republican government. He spoke of his respect for the rights of all states, and of his belief in expanded education for all the people, both to enlarge the happiness of life and as essential to the preservation of freedom. He continued to express his love and honor for the Constitution and promised that he would do his best to maintain and uphold the people's rights'.
Throughout the next eight years of Adams’s presidency, he was not able to uphold his promise of protecting the people’s rights’; instead, he did the opposite by passing the Alien and Sedition Acts which was highly unconstitutional, specifically how the Sedition Act clearly violated individual protections under the first amendment of the Constitution. And although Adams expressed in his Inaugural Address to greater his people’s happiness while in office, he was observed by some to be a man with no desire to cultivate or appeal to the masses.
Relationship with Congress
Because Congress was mostly comprised of Federalists, Adams had little quarrel with the members. However, the president of the Senate was the Vice President Thomas Jefferson who happened to be Democratic Republican. Obviously head-butting occurred, but truly the only time Adams full-out disagreed with Congress was on deciding America’s position in the war between Great Britain and France, Adams trying to go the more peaceful route. In the end, Adams successfully navigated a way into creating peace between France and the U.S. in a civil manner, going against Congress’s opinion.
Positive Outcome
One of Adams most notable actions was the XYZ Affair in 1797. The cause of the event was when the French were furious at Jay’s Treaty, describing it as America’s way of alliancing with Britain, thus violating the Franco-American Treaty of 1788. French warships began to seize defenseless American merchant vessels and refused to receive America’s envoy. Adams stayed level headed while the Americans were becoming aroused. Adams, trying to avoid war, tried to reach an agreement with the French and sent three new diplomats over to France. But when the three new diplomats arrived, they were required to pay a bribe of an unthinkable amount just to meet the French foreign minister Talleyrand.
This incident, later known as the XYZ Affair, almost blew into a full-fledged war; worried about war, an intimidated Talleyrand gave into America’s threats and thus respected America’s power. This shone a great light on Adams, but in 1798 he shocked everyone by appointing a new minister to France. After a great deal of haggling, the Convention of 1800 treaty was signed and a war was avoided between France and America, which indirectly helped pave the path for the Louisiana Purchase during Jefferson’s presidency.
Negative Outcome
Irrefutably the worst decision Adams made during presidency was passing the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798, four Acts that hindered American rights and was found highly unconstitutional. The four acts were the Naturalization Act, the Alien Act, the Alien Enemies Act, and the Sedition Act. They acted, respectively, to make it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens, to rid the nation of pro-Republican immigrants, to authorize the president to imprison or kick out immigrants during wartime, and to fine and imprison anyone who publishes anything negative against the government. The only thing Adams had gained from these Acts was for the Federalists to overpower Republicans, asserting their power over them; conversely, the nation suffered due to Adams’s selfish actions.
Influence the Future
In an angry fit and an attempt to retaliate at the newly elected President Thomas Jefferson, Adams spent his final hours as President appointing a slew of Federalists in court offices to make a Federalist legacy in government while Adams was no longer president, known as the “Midnight Judges.” Although Jefferson removed many of these appointees, Federalist John Marshall remained the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court and helped shape America by making decisions based on the Constitution and asserted judicial power, setting a precedent that far exceeded Jefferson’s presidency.
Conclusion
Weighing Adam’s successes compared to his downfalls, it would be clear that the decisions Adams has made for this nation outweighs the wrongs he has made. It is far worse to go to war as a weak nation than to imprison some freethinkers who would be released by the next president. For these reasons, Jefferson made a respectable president who made an honorable follow-up to his predecessor George Washington, and like his predecessor, would be a tough act to follow. His one flaw during presidency was getting too involved with parties; otherwise, he evidently put his nation first and foremost. For these reasons, Adams deserves a B.
Works Cited
DeGregorio, William A. "John Adams." The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. 6th ed. New York: Gramercy, 2002. 28-31. Print.
John Adams: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1797. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25802.
"John Adams." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Adams>.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. "Launching the New Ship of State, 1789-1800." The American Pageant. 12th ed. N.p.: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 202-06. Print.
Sage, Henry J. "American Economic Growth." Jefferson-Jackson. Academic American, 17 Sept. 2005. Web. 01 Oct. 2012. <http://www.academicamerican.com/jeffersonjackson/topics/EconomicIssues.htm>.